Arrangement for adjusting the height of a carrier means

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an arrangement for adjusting the height of a carrier ( 1 ), which carrier ( 1 ) includes at least a carrying section ( 2 ) intended for carrying a child, upper support elements ( 5, 6 ) attached to the carrying section and placed over the wearer&#39;s shoulders, and lower support elements ( 7 - 9 ) to be placed around the wearer&#39;s body. The carrying section ( 2 ) is equipped at least with essentially webbing like adjustment elements ( 10, 11, 14 ), with which the multistepped or stepless height adjustment is designed to be carried out.

The present invention relates to the arrangement described in thepreamble of claim 1 for adjusting the height of a carrier, which carrieris intended particularly for carrying a child on an adult's front, back,or hip. The carrier has been supplied with a height adjustment of thecarrying section, to make the same carrier ergonomically suitable forinfant babies as well as for larger toddlers well until their pre-schoolyears.

In prior art, various fabrics or their combinations are used for sewingcarriers in a form of, for instance, a back carrier, a front carrier ora mei, with upper straps, which go over the wearer's shoulders, as wellas lower straps or a hip belt, which are attached around the waist orhip, and occasionally also other straps such as a chest strap, whichholds the upper straps in place. Between the straps there is a carryingsection that can be realized in various ways, formed a little e.g. intoa shape of a cup or into a rectangle or square. Ergonomically, thecarrying section should support the child's back all the way up. This isparticularly important for a small baby and for a baby who is sleepingor moving actively in the carrier, in order for the carrier to be safefor the baby and for the carrying to be pleasant for the wearer and tothe baby. When the carrying section supports the child's back all theway up, or at least up to the level of the arms, the mass centre of thechild stays close to the wearer. During the most active carrying period,from newborn to about two-year-old, the child will grow by dozens ofcentimetres. Furthermore, carriers are often used occasionally forcarrying larger children, for instance on longer distances, at airportsor while hiking, and for handicapped or other children with specialneeds. Most carriers according to prior art make compromises regardingthe height of the carrying section to make it suitable for children agedapproximately six to eighteen months. This makes it too high for smallbabies and too low for larger children. Thus a carrier that is suitablefor a twelve-month-old is not suitable for ergonomic carrying of a smallbaby or a larger child. For some carriers, the problem has been solvedby adding a separate inner part for smaller babies. This adds to thefabric layers of the carriers, which is undesirable in hot weather, warmclimates or indoor use. Nor does the separate inner section solve theproblem in terms of the ergonomics of carrying larger children. Othercarriers are sold in various sizes, in which case a family has to buyseveral carriers for a same child or an own carrier for each child of avarious age.

The object of this invention is to remove the disadvantages describedabove and to achieve an advantageous and easily modifiable, reliable andergonomic arrangement for adjusting the height of a carrier intendedparticularly for carrying children, where the height can be increased asa child grows. The arrangement according to the invention ischaracterised by what is disclosed in the characterisation part of claim1. Other embodiments of the invention are characterised by what isdisclosed in the other claims.

The advantages of the arrangement according to the invention include thefact that the height adjustment of the carrier's carrying section ismultistepped or stepless, which allows the height to be increased easilyas the child grows. Another benefit of the height adjustment of thearrangement according to the invention is that the same carrier isoptimally suitable for children of different sizes, meaning that afamily, or e.g. a children's private day care or a day-care centre, doesnot have to purchase several carriers, if the children are carried atdifferent times. The height adjustment of the carrying section can be afixed part of the carrier or an additional piece or a removably fastenedupper part. The height adjustment according to the invention is suitablefor different carrier models, including back carriers, front carriersand square cloths—i.e. any equipment with a carrying section thatsupports the back or the front part of the child to be carried. Theheight adjustment according to the invention also enables the samecarrier to be realized so that the child can be carried facing forward,because in such a position the height of the carrying section must belower than when the child is carried facing the wearer. In addition, theheight adjustment of the carrying section is useful when the baby iscarried not only in vertical position but also in L-shaped or recliningposition in the same carrier.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by theaid of embodiment examples with reference to the attached drawings,wherein

FIG. 1 presents an arrangement according to the invention for steplessheight adjustment of a carrier, adjusted to the maximum height andviewed from the backside of the carrier,

FIG. 2 presents a stepless height adjustment of a carrier according tothe invention adjusted to a smaller height and viewed from the backsideof the carrier,

FIG. 3 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the adjustmentmeans consist of webbings and D-rings,

FIG. 4 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the adjustmentmeans consist of webbings and buckles,

FIG. 5 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the adjustmentmeans consist of webbings, buckles and snap fasteners,

FIG. 6 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the adjustmentmeans consists of a buckle and a Velcro tape sewn on a webbing,

FIG. 7 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the adjustmentmeans consist of webbings that can be tied to each other,

FIG. 8 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the adjustmentmeans consist of a cord that runs inside a channel, a reinforcement ringand a cord lock,

FIG. 9 presents an alternative detail of FIG. 2, where the webbings usedas the adjustment means begin higher, near from the upper straps,

FIG. 10 presents a multistepped height adjustment of a carrier accordingto the invention, viewed from the back side of the carrier, where theupper part of the carrier is removably fastened and where the adjustmentand attachment means consist of snap fastener rows, buckles andwebbings, and also support loops,

FIG. 11 presents a stepless height adjustment of a carrier according tothe invention, viewed from the back side of the carrier, where in thecarrying section there is a removably fastenable additional piece withsnap fastener rows as attachment elements, and where the adjustmentmeans consist of buckles and webbings, and also support loops, and

FIG. 12 presents a stepless height adjustment of a carrier according tothe invention, viewed from the back side of the carrier, where theadjustment means consist of buckles and webbings and where there is aremovably fastened upper part with snap fastener tape as the attachmentmeans.

A multistepped or stepless height adjustment has been developed for thecarrier according to the invention. FIG. 1 presents a carrier 1according to the invention, viewed from the backside of the carrier,i.e. from the outside, with the carrier hanging freely open. In thiscase the carrier would be positioned between the viewer and the wearerof the carrier. The carrier 1 comprises at least a carrying section 2,upper support elements 5 and 6, such as upper straps placed on thewearer's shoulders, i.e. carrying straps. In addition, the carrier hasat least lower support elements to be adjusted around the wearer's body,which elements consist for example of a hip belt 9 or for example oflower straps 7 and 8 presented in FIG. 10, or for example of both a hipbelt 9 and lower straps 7 and 8. The carrying section 2 in between theupper support elements 5 and 6 can be realized in various ways, formed alittle e.g. into a shape of a cup or into a rectangle or square.

FIG. 1 presents a stepless height adjustment of the carrier 1 accordingto the invention adjusted to the maximum height. The height of thecarrying section 2 has been fitted to be adjusted with webbings 10, 11acting as adjustment elements and with buckles 12, 13 acting asadjustment means, which webbings and buckles are placed in between theupper support elements 5 and 6, which are attached to the top edge ofthe hip belt 9 and to the top edge of the upper part 3 of the carryingsection 2. Each adjustment element consists at least of an upper webbingpart, which is essentially attached near to the top edge of the upperpart 3 of the carrying section 2 by its top end, and of a lower webbingpart, which is attachable to the upper webbing part with the adjustmentmeans, and which is attached by its lower end to the lower supportelements, such as the hip belt 9 or the lower straps 7, 8.

FIG. 2 presents the carrier according to FIG. 1, where the steplessheight adjustment is adjusted to a smaller height, in which case theupper part 3 of the carrying section 2 is slightly folded towards thehip belt 9.

FIGS. 3-9 present alternative details of the embodiment presented inFIG. 2. In the solution according to FIG. 3 the adjustment elementsconsists of webbings 14 and the adjustment means consist of D-rings 15,16 instead of buckles. Respectively, FIG. 4 presents a height adjustmentsolution, in which the adjustment elements consists of webbings 14 andthe adjustment means consist of lockable buckles 17. In the solutionpresented in FIG. 5 the adjustment elements consists of webbings 11 andthe adjustment means consist of buckles 18 and snap fasteners 19-23.Respectively, FIG. 6 presents a solution, in which a Velcro tape 24 anda buckle 18 acting as adjustment means has been sewn on to the webbing11 acting as the adjustment element. In the solution according to FIG. 7the adjustment elements consists of webbings 11, 14 that can be tied toeach other, and in the embodiment presented in FIG. 8 the adjustmentelement consists of a cord 26 that runs inside a channel 25 and theadjustment means consist of a reinforcement ring 27 and a cord lock 28.FIG. 9 presents another solution, where the webbings 11 acting as theadjustment elements begin higher, near from the upper straps 5, 6.

FIG. 10 presents a multistepped height adjustment of the carrier 1according to the invention, where the upper part 3 of the carrier 1 isremovably fastened and where the adjustment and attachment means consistof snap fastener rows 29-32 and buckles 33-35 and the adjustmentelements consist of webbings 10, 11, 36 and also support loops 37-43.Respectively, FIG. 11 presents a stepless height adjustment of thecarrier 1 according to the invention, where in the carrying section 2there is a removably fastenable additional piece 44 with snap fastenerrows 45, 46 as attachment elements. In the solution according to FIG. 11the adjustment means consist of buckles 33, 34 and the adjustmentelements consist of webbings 10, 11 and also support loops 47-50. FIG.12 presents yet another stepless height adjustment solution of thecarrier 1 according to the invention, where the adjustment means consistof buckles 33, 34 and the adjustment elements consist of webbings 10,11. In the carrier 1 there is a removably fastened upper part 3 withsnap fastener tape 51 as the attachment means. In the carrier 1 thereare also removably fastened upper straps 5, 6 with pockets 52-55 andbuckles 56-59 and webbings 60-63 as the attachment means.

The multistepped or stepless height adjustment of the carrier 1according to the invention, which carrier 1 is intended for carrying achild, consists of webbings, thongs or straps acting as the adjustmentelements 10, 11 and 14, which are placed on top of/under the carryingsection 2 or in between its fabric layers, and of various adjustmentmeans 12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-34. The adjustment means include variousbuckles 12, 13, 17, 33-34, snap fasteners 19-23, 29-32, snap fastenertape, Velcro tape 24, buttons or rings 15, 16. For example, there can beone or several webbings acting as adjustment elements. Each adjustmentelement consists at least of an upper webbing part, which is essentiallyattached near to the top edge of the upper part 3 of the carryingsection 2 by its top end, and of a lower webbing part, which isattachable to the upper webbing part with the adjustment means, andwhich is attached by its lower end to the lower support elements, suchas the hip belt 9 or the lower straps 7, 8. When adjusting the height ofthe carrying section, the adjustment elements are locked to a desiredposition with the adjustment means. The adjustment elements 10, 11 and14 are, for example, various ready-made webbings and made of the same ora different fabric than the carrying section 2 is made of. What isessential is that the adjustment elements are sufficiently durable foradjustment use, particularly when the upper part 3 of the carryingsection 2 is removably fastened as presented in FIGS. 10-12. Webbingscan begin from the point where the shoulder straps 5, 6 are attached to(FIG. 10), from below them (FIG. 6) or they can be extended and sewn ontop of the shoulder straps 5, 6 (FIG. 7). The buckle 12, 13, 17, 33-35or other adjustment means 15, 16, 18-24, 28, 29-32 can be attachedeither to the webbing attached to the lower edge of the adjustable part(FIG. 1) or to the webbing attached near to the shoulder (FIGS. 3 and4).

The above description represents the most advantageous embodiments ofthe invention. Those skilled in the art will see, however, that theinvention is not limited to the embodiment examples presented above, butcan be varied within the scope of the patent claims presented below. Thewebbings can alternatively be placed into webbing channels 25, which areeither separate or sewn in between the fabrics of the carrying section2, and which have cord locks 28 as adjustment means in their one end orboth ends or in the middle (FIG. 8). The upper part 3 of the carryingsection 2 can be removably fastened to the lower part 4 of the carryingsection 2, and in between these there may be one or several additionalparts 44. In the removably fastened model the support loops 37-43, 47-50are helpful in keeping the webbings in place.

The parts, shape and length of the multistepped or stepless adjustmentof the carrier 1 according to the invention can be varied to optimallysuit each carrier. For example, zippers, snap fasteners, snap fastenertape and Velcro tape are suitable to act as the attachment means 29-32,45, 46, 51 of the removably fastened upper part 3 and the additionalpart/parts 44 of the carrying section 2. Other variation possibilitiesof the invention include adding various removable or non-removablelinings and/or various removable or non-removable neck/head rests. Inaddition, the length and the width of the webbings, straps and otheradjustment parts can be varied. Knots and various fastening clips can beused instead of cord locks. The carrier can be made as a one-sizesolution or in several sizes.

1. An arrangement for adjusting the height of a carrier (1), whichcarrier (1) includes at least a carrying section (2) intended forcarrying a child, upper support elements (5, 6) attached to the carryingsection and placed over the wearer's shoulders, and lower supportelements (7-9) to be placed around the wearer's body, characterised inthat the carrying section (2) is equipped at least with essentiallywebbing like adjustment elements (10, 11, 14), with which themultistepped or stepless height adjustment is designed to be carriedout.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that theheight of the carrying section (2) is fitted to be adjusted with theadjustment elements placed in between the lower support elements, suchas a hip belt (9) or lower straps (J, 8), and the upper support elements(5, 6) situated at the top edge of the upper part (3) of the carryingsection (2), and with adjustment means connected to the adjustmentelements.
 3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised inthat the carrying section (2) is removably fastened and/or additionallythe carrying section (2) includes one or several additional parts (44).4. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that thevarious webbings (10, 11, 14) acting as the adjustment elements arefitted to begin from the shoulder straps (5, 6), from the top surface ofthe shoulder straps, from between the fabric layers of the shoulderstraps, from the top of the carrying section (2) or from between thefabric layers of the carrying section (2) or other similar spots.
 5. Anarrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the variousbuckles (12, 13, 17, 33-35), rings (15, 16), snap fasteners (19-23,29-32), snap fastener tapes and Velcro tapes (24) acting as theadjustment means are placed at any spot on the webbing (10, 11, 14) andthe carrying section (2).
 6. An arrangement according to claim 1,characterised in that the carrier (1) has one or several support loops(37-43, 47-50) helping to keep in place a removably fastened carryingsection (2) and/or adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-36) such aswebbings.
 7. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in thatthere are more adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-36) helping tokeep in place a removably fastened carrying section (2) and additionalparts (44) than in the carrier (1) equipped with a non-removablecarrying section (2), which adjustment means are placed at the spots ofthe carrying section (2) that are on top of each other, or at othersuitable spots.
 8. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised inthat the various webbings (10, 11, 14) acting as the adjustment elementsare fitted to begin from the shoulder straps (5, 6), from the topsurface of the shoulder straps, from between the fabric layers of theshoulder straps, from the top of the carrying section (2) or frombetween the fabric layers of the carrying section (2) or other similarspots.
 9. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that thevarious webbings (10, 11, 14) acting as the adjustment elements arefitted to begin from the shoulder straps (5, 6), from the top surface ofthe shoulder straps, from between the fabric layers of the shoulderstraps, from the top of the carrying section (2) or from between thefabric layers of the carrying section (2) or other similar spots.
 10. Anarrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the variousbuckles (12, 13, 17, 33-35), rings (15, 16), snap fasteners (19-23,29-32), snap fastener tapes and Velcro tapes (24) acting as theadjustment means are placed at any spot on the webbing (10, 11, 14) andthe carrying section (2).
 11. An arrangement according to claim 3,characterised in that the various buckles (12, 13, 17, 33-35), rings(15, 16), snap fasteners (19-23, 29-32), snap fastener tapes and Velcrotapes (24) acting as the adjustment means are placed at any spot on thewebbing (10, 11, 14) and the carrying section (2).
 12. An arrangementaccording to claim 4, characterised in that the various buckles (12, 13,17, 33-35), rings (15, 16), snap fasteners (19-23, 29-32), snap fastenertapes and Velcro tapes (24) acting as the adjustment means are placed atany spot on the webbing (10, 11, 14) and the carrying section (2). 13.An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the carrier(1) has one or several support loops (37-43, 47-50) helping to keep inplace a removably fastened carrying section (2) and/or adjustment means(12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-36) such as webbings.
 14. An arrangementaccording to claim 3, characterised in that the carrier (1) has one orseveral support loops (37-43, 47-50) helping to keep in place aremovably fastened carrying section (2) and/or adjustment means (12, 13,15-24, 26, 29-36) such as webbings.
 15. An arrangement according toclaim 4, characterised in that the carrier (1) has one or severalsupport loops (37-43, 47-50) helping to keep in place a removablyfastened carrying section (2) and/or adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24,26, 29-36) such as webbings.
 16. An arrangement according to claim 5,characterised in that the carrier (1) has one or several support loops(37-43, 47-50) helping to keep in place a removably fastened carryingsection (2) and/or adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-36) such aswebbings.
 17. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in thatthere are more adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-36) helping tokeep in place a removably fastened carrying section (2) and additionalparts (44) than in the carrier (1) equipped with a non-removablecarrying section (2), which adjustment means are placed at the spots ofthe carrying section (2) that are on top of each other, or at othersuitable spots.
 18. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterisedin that there are more adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24, 26, 29-36)helping to keep in place a removably fastened carrying section (2) andadditional parts (44) than in the carrier (1) equipped with anon-removable carrying section (2), which adjustment means are placed atthe spots of the carrying section (2) that are on top of each other, orat other suitable spots.
 19. An arrangement according to claim 4,characterised in that there are more adjustment means (12, 13, 15-24,26, 29-36) helping to keep in place a removably fastened carryingsection (2) and additional parts (44) than in the carrier (1) equippedwith a non-removable carrying section (2), which adjustment means areplaced at the spots of the carrying section (2) that are on top of eachother, or at other suitable spots.